ProfitGuard Solutions
More bang for your purchasing buck
When you’re knee-deep in the weeds, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. What if you had a partner who could review your purchasing history and show you how to get more bang for your buck?
ProfitGuard experts are those partners, available for a custom analysis of your business. With years of experience building and applying technology to improve the businesses of independent pharmacies throughout the country—even reaching Puerto Rico—we can point out ways to lower your total cost of goods and get the largest rebates you can. Perhaps there are possible carve outs you’re not taking full advantage of. Or maybe your rebate potential is higher than you think. A cheaper invoice price “in the moment” might not be the best big-picture decision as you try to raise your overall profit.
“Perhaps buying on the secondary market isn’t helping your bottom line as much as you thought,” said Chris Jarvis, ProfitGuard Systems Manager.
In fact, saving pennies can cost you dollars.
Say you regularly divert a large percentage of your purchasing dollars away from your primary wholesaler. After all, it makes sense to chase the cheapest generics, right? Maybe not. By selectively reviewing these purchases and returning them to your primary wholesaler contract, your generic rebate percentage might increase significantly. Better yet, your brand discount might increase because you improved your GCR.
“As you try to save nickels and dimes, it’s easy to overlook brand discount implications on your overall purchasing,” said Jarvis. “But it matters a lot, as it’s likely almost 80% of your purchase dollars are spent on brand drugs. Tweaking some of your purchasing habits might increase your overall profits.”
ProfitGuard would love to kick start the process by working on a custom review of your pharmacy purchases with you. To schedule a private, confidential appointment, email customercare@pbahealth.com or call 800.333.8097.
ProfitGuard Solutions examines the best ways to get the most from your ProfitGuard tools.
Need to Know
DSCSA key date coming up
Like many other community pharmacists, you might have questions about the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
First, remember that there isn’t too much to be concerned about, as you and your team members have most likely already implemented current best practices.
The next upcoming deadline is Wednesday, August 27, which applies to wholesale distributors for certain enhanced drug distribution security requirements. Specifically, wholesale distributors will need to move from lot-based transaction history to serialized product identifier information for in-scope products. They also need to finalize electronic connections with manufacturers and ensure consistent and compliant exchange of traceability data.
PBA Health, as well as other wholesale distributors, host portals containing all relevant data. This data is available and accessible for all customers.
Remember, the goal of DSCSA is to prevent the introduction of counterfeit, stolen, or otherwise harmful drugs into the supply chain, and to improve the detection and removal of such products. The latest deadline is part of a broader set of staggered deadlines for different trading partners in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Here’s a quick breakdown:
May 27, 2025: The date that manufacturers and repackagers needed to be fully compliant.
August 27, 2025: The date wholesale distributors need to be fully compliant.
November 27, 2025: The deadline for dispensers with 26 or more full-time employees to be fully compliant.
November 27, 2026: The deadline for dispensers with fewer than 26 full-time employees to be fully compliant.
PBA Health urges you to be aware of conflicting facts and outright misinformation that’s specifically aimed at independent community pharmacies. Be careful and do not believe everything you see or hear.
We will continue to keep you completely informed about what you need to do, what you don’t need to do, and what we are doing to help you and your business adjust to new or different requirements. We’ll maintain communication as the industry continues to adapt.
If you have any questions at all, contact us by calling 800.333.8097 or by emailing customercare@pbahealth.com. We’re your partner and we’re happy to help.
The latest vaccine info
Get the most up-to-date vaccine information at a one-hour webinar hosted by the NCPA. “All Pharmacy Townhall: Examining Changes in Vaccine Policy Affecting Practice and the Community” starts at noon CDT Wednesday, August 6.
The session explores recent changes in national vaccine policy, practice recommendations, and procedures—and what they mean for the provision of vaccine services by pharmacy professionals.
You’ll gain insight into the evolving landscape of pharmacy-based vaccine delivery. And you’ll learn what’s known so far about the upcoming respiratory infection season. Plus, you can ask questions directly to a panel of expert speakers. Register now.
Need to Know keeps you informed of dates, deadlines, and other information relevant to independent community pharmacy.